Christopher

bulldog10

My family takes care of its own, it is disgusting others leave the dirty work to someone else. It also is disgusting that people don't plan for the future and expect others to care for them at someone else's expense. But then again, look around, young people on welfare, parents not taking care of their children, drugs and drinking by mothers and fathers, etc, etc.

And then the excuses from folks like you for those type people. There are people who need help in this world, but 47% of the USA.

judeye

As someone who travels frequently by train, I would love to see a stop here. I could see college kids using it all the time. I know I have to drive to Buffalo to pick up my nephew every time he comes in from NYC by train. How about those who might be able to use it for business? I would love to see this more explored. Perhaps it really would not be feasible, but if we could get a study for free why not do it?

As for tourists, many tourists come to this area and many of us decide to relocate here. I am not the only one who came here as a tourist and then decided I liked the are so moved here. Take a look at sunset, Van Buren, Chautauqua, Lily Dale..yes we are surrounded by tourists and tourism. Yes we can expand that market for sure.

However, I agree JOBS..are what are needed here. Manufacturing jobs that pay well and come with benefits so a family can actually live from their pay checks.

judeye

So why are we not looking at what kind of skills they need..and then provide training to the residents?

We did it all the time when I was working. We would hear from industry that they needed say..welders. So we would run a welding program to teach entry level welding. Did they same when there was a need for machinists and yearly we ran a clerical training.

It is not rocket science. But it does take communication between industry and those charged with workforce development in our area.

Captain

bulldog: even if Hellwig disputed my allegations, would it change the negatives facing the county if the CCH is sold? However, if such charges were proven true, would the support to sell still be there? Possibly, but only b/c of the extraordinary hatred in this area for public workers.

I stand by my statement that all the financial problems at CCH started AFTER Edwards got it in his head to sell, for the purpose of gaining the support he needed, and w/o any regard for the negatives I've listed. Do you think I'm exaggerating, or do you believe my concerns are reasonable?

Christopher

Captain

I have no doubt the home will be sold. There will be jobs lost and wages significantly reduced. More county funds will be needed to take care of those who lose their jobs. Expendable income will shrink even more, negatively affecting retail businesses, restaurants, property values, schools, etc. Our population will likely drop even more, and our seniors will lose the admissions preference they currently enjoy. All this and not one cent reduction in county taxes???

This area's contempt for public unions is no secret, but such disdain has blinded those who support the sale, specifically, all the negatives that will almost certainly follow once the CCH is sold.

Captain

Don't forget bulldog, I'm a county taxpayer, NOT a CCH employee, and I want cost-efficient gov't too.

To me, it became clear what Edwards' motive was after HE decided to sell the CCH, which was to erase profits and make the home look more costly in order to gain support. He approved the costly gas well, w/o any objection from the CCLeg, and then canceled the project shortly after. Further, he & the CCLeg never explained why they refused to comply with any of the cost-saving recommendations spelled out in the 1st CGR report over 3 yrs ago. Why?

You can believe what you want, but ask yourself this: why hasn't the CCLeg demanded Hellwig's resignation? Is it b/c he's done such a great job, or is b/c if he got fired, he might tell the truth?

bulldog10

Mike, I tend to agree with that statement. However all the Union has to do, and the Union does have money is do a study of it's own showing what they have. Since that study wasn't done we have only the one we have to work off of. You can not dispute the fact that Union workers make $48,000 at the county home while their counterparts in the private homes average $32,000. $16,000 dollars per employee and how many employees does the county home have? That is a fact you can't run away from. Any study could show that, point blank it a fact.

MikeDavis

Bulldog, do you find it as interesting as I do that studies seem to always come out the way the person PAYING for them wants them to? Doesn't matter the subject, the cost, nor the politics. Pay for the study and it will show that the hopme is making a profit. Pay for the study and it will show the home as a giant black hole for cash.

rumblefish

reality is that this city and the surrounding area has a history of throwing good money after bad, always has, so history dictates that it always will, or in those famous words of long ago" those that forget history are tend to repeat history"

Captain

On second thought, this train station idea is comparable to selling the CCH. They are both foolish ideas and will costs this area millions in the end, but who cares, the public will buy into, it's just a matter of convincing THEM that this is what WE want to do.

Captain

Unfortunately, there far are too many people like bulldog. I've said it before, the support to sell the CCH (which is overwhelmingly based on a false belief that taxpayers will save money) indicates a disturbing trait in elected reps and residents of Chat Co. If the lack of empathy isn't shocking enough, the financial negatives the sale will have on the county far outweigh any benefits, yet these negatives are ignorantly dismissed?

Others have pointed out the annual cost to operate the CCH equates to a mere 1% (ONE) of the county's annual budget, yet people are saying; "who cares"; "it's not our problem"; "it's a waste of money"; "dump it for whatever you can get"; "pay someone to take it off our hands"; "at least we'll bust the union"???

MikeDavis

MikeDavis

Oh good...another project to spend tax dollars that will generate pennies on each and every ten dollar bill spent. No wonder that area is losing businesses and the young. The leaders are clueless and refuse to listen to anyone with more information than themselves. Good luck WNY, you are going to need it.

bulldog10

Maybe a train station isn't where money should be spent. But the county home wastes 8-10,000 dollars a day of taxpayer money. You can't claim to be on one side like Christopher with the county home and they cry about spending money on a train station. Your either against all waste or your a grunt.